Historic centre of Girona

Located on a small hill between L’Onyar and the Gironella tower, we can find the Barri Vell or old quarter of Girona, an urban labyrinth ascending the hillside and crowned by the cathedral. It stretches along the course of the river until it is cut off on the other side by the old town wall. It is one of the biggest monumental ensembles in Catalonia and preserves a purely mediaeval style.

This is one of the biggest monumental complexes in Catalonia and it is perched on a small hill between L’Onyar and the Gironella tower. Girona old town has managed to conserve its mediaeval appearance within the urban framework that ascends towards the cathedral.

Carrer de la Força, the old Roman Via Augusta, forms the backbone of the neighbourhood and the starting point for many tours.

The Pont de Pedra bridge, built in the 19th century, is a great place from which to admire the old town, the houses of L’Onyar and the river. In Carrer dels Ciutadans we can find the Gothic palace of La Fontana d'Or; in the square Plaça de l'Oli is the church of Sant Martí Sacosta and behind it, Sant Domènec and the Renaissance house Casa Agullana.

Among the labyrinth of old, narrow streets we can find the Jewish quarter or Call. The Museu d'Història dels Jueus, a museum located in the Centre Bonastruc ça Porta, explains how the Hebrew population of Girona used to live.

It is also worth visiting the Museu d'Història de la Ciutat, in the Sant Antoni convent, which exhibits objects from the first settlers in the area through to contemporary times, as well as the Museu d'Art de Girona, in the Palau Episcopal.

In the cathedral square we can find old mansions, the large staircase of the church of Santa Maria and Pia Almoina, a Gothic building declared a Historic and Artistic Monument.

The cathedral of Santa Maria has the widest Gothic vault in the world and the cloister conserves works of great historical worth: the Tapestry of Creation (11th century) and the Gerona Beatus (14th century).

In the old town we can also find the Plaça dels Jurats, where we can see the Turkish baths, the most well-preserved Romanesque complex in the country. And behind the baths we can find the Passeig Arqueològic, a promenade that goes around the city and takes us to the monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants, next to the church of Sant Nicolau. Both buildings form a beautiful Romanesque complex, which was built in the 13th century.

It is worth taking a stroll along the streets and coming across popular squares like Plaça del Vi (Plaça d’Espanya) and Plaça de les Cols (Rambla). On the way we can admire old noble houses made of grey stone, dark corners and fountains, like that of La Mare de Déu de la Pera or Plaça dels Lledoners.